Archive for October, 2014

We’ve written many times about how Memphis must increase the number of its college graduates from 2010 to 2013 if it is to be competitive in today’s economy, so we won’t repeat it here. But the Memphis MSA was one of 57 regions that entered a national contest to vie for $1 million as the […]

From New Geography: Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Rust Belt, a region familiar to the air of anxiety, knows this all too well, particularly the “desperate measures” part. A case in point: During the 1990’s, Pittsburgh, like many of its Rust Belt peers, was in the midst of a fit of brain drain […]

The most exciting things in Memphis are regularly happening below the radar, without waiting for officialdom’s approval, away from the limelight, and with no interest in headlines. Much of it is being done by people younger than 40 who have decided that the path to a better Memphis […]

Note: Community Benefits Agreements are being used in cities across the United States to set out what companies and developers will do for the community in return for generous public incentives. Here, it could be a useful addition to our tax freeze program and restore public confidence […]

One of our favorite things about this community is its lack of pretension and snobbiness. Perhaps, it comes from the fact that the character of the city was shaped fundamentally by the people from the edge, the rivermen and the African-Americans, the outsiders who gave us our most […]

Memphis is struggling, our challenges are daunting, and maybe, just maybe, we should acknowledge those facts in making a pitch for the 25-34 year-old college-educated talent that we need to compete in today’s economy. It’s a compelling offer that we have to make. A sizable number of this […]

Somehow, we missed this speech by our friend Carol Coletta few months ago but it seems timely for Memphis with its emphasis on talent, opportunity, and quality of place. (Bolded passages are ours.) Carol Coletta, vice president of community and national initiatives, delivered a keynote address at the Strong Cities, Strong Communities symposium in Gary, […]

We all know people who are egotistical to the point of arrogance. They think they are always right and only their opinion matters. They always volunteer their advice and opinions to everyone else about how they should live their lives. Conversations inevitably are all about them. But add politics […]

Previously posted February 5, 2010, but becoming more true everyday: The primary reason we are so exorcised about I-269 and other sprawl-inducing highway projects are because they deepen the economic segregation that holds back Memphis’ progress. Memphis is #1 in economic segregation among the largest 50 metros in the U.S. Here’s the kicker: sprawl […]

The Downtown Memphis Commission’s recently released “State of Downtown” report underscored the message that downtown is crucial to Memphis and its future and how the CBD today rests on its transformation into a residential center. The report said downtown’s population grew at a higher rate than any other section […]

Except for the most hidebound partisans, it’s hard to deny that all the dire predictions about the impact of partisan elections in Shelby County mayor and commissioners’ races have come to pass. For more than two weeks, the work of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners was shut […]

We write often here about some troubling rankings for Memphis, but here’s one that we can be proud of. Memphis is listed in the top 10 of most charitable cities, and it’s a distinction we’ve had for years. From Huffington Post: Turns out, you don’t need deep pockets to lead the way in charitable giving […]

by SCM (RSS) Uncategorized | October 8th, 2014 2:00pm CST | Comments Off on Memphis #2 Most Charitable City

We write often here about some troubling rankings for Memphis, but here’s one that we can be proud of. Memphis is listed in the top 10 of most charitable cities, and it’s a distinction we’ve had for years. From Huffington Post: Turns out, you don’t need deep pockets to lead the way in charitable giving […]

Christian doctrine says that God gave us free will. The backers of Amendment 1 would take that away. They want to take away the options of women in Tennessee to make their own health decisions and they have gone to the extreme of trying to amend the […]

Previously published in the September issue of Memphis Magazine as its City Journal column: City of Memphis is the Rodney Dangerfield of government. Speakers at Memphis City Council and commenters on The Commercial Appeal website rail about City Hall corruption although no one has been charged with a […]

From CityLab: Here’s a post by Jeff Speck, who, with Nelson Nygaard, recommended changing Riverside Drive to two lanes (although his recommendation was different that what was implemented): Let’s make “10 not 12!” a new mantra for saving our cities and towns. When state DOTs bring streets through cities, they apply highway standards (above, Okeechobee […]

Note: Earlier this week, we posted a story about the out-migration of people from Memphis and Shelby County previously published in The Best Times byJimmie Covington, our resident expert on Census data. We’re following it up with this post from The Best Times about the out-migration of African-Americans from Memphis. Numbers from the last four decennial […]

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About Smart City Memphis

This is Smart City Consulting's blog and its purpose is to connect the dots and provide perspective on events, issues, and policies shaping Memphis and its future. Smart City Memphis was named one of the most intriguing blogs in the U.S. by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change; The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal wrote that "Smart City Memphis provides some of the most well-thought-out thinking about Memphis' past, present, and future you'll find anywhere," and the Memphis Flyer said: "This incredibly well-written blog sets out to solves the city's ills - from the mayor to MATA - with out-of-the-box thinking, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ideas. If you have questions, submissions, or ideas for posts, please email the blog's editor, Tom Jones, at tjones@smartcityconsulting.com.